Award-winning Open House set for Sept. 16

September 7, 2017 – ALCOSAN will hold its 15th annual Open House from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, September 16, with a wide range of activities designed to entertain the youngest visitors, their parents, grandparents and people of every age in between.

ALCOSAN has a history of success with this award-winning event, the region’s largest watershed and environmental festival. Last year, 2,328 visitors came to the Open House. It’s time for people who haven’t participated before to find out just what they can learn and how much fun they can have during a day at a wastewater treatment plant.

More than 40 exhibitors will be on hand to help dispel any doubts. New features this year include a booth where ratepayers can learn about ALCOSAN’s new Clean Water Assistance Fund, a SHARP Robotics exhibit where visitors can drive a robot, and a natural wastewater treatment system on display to show how plants, snails and fish all work together to sustain life.

Naturally, many of the most popular participants from years past will be present, too. Returnees include ALCOSAN’s Mad Scientist, Science Rocks’ Nutty Professor and the Ohio River Valley Water Sanitation Commission, with a 2,200-gallon aquarium filled with fish caught in the river just before gates open.

There will be a chance to take a selfie with ALCOSAN’s mascot, Frankie the Fish. This year, visitors also can perch atop ALCOSAN’s entry from the Three Rivers Regatta Anything That Floats race. With multiple seats constructed to look like toilets and paddles made of toilet seat lids, this unique vessel is a hilarious setting for a family photo.

The highlight of any trip to ALCOSAN is a tour of the plant itself. Guests should sign up for a timed tour ticket as soon as they arrive, because these bus tours fill up fast.

A complete list of exhibitors is available at alcosan.org, and that’s where the public can register for the event. As always, there will be free parking, a shuttle from the North Side T stations and free lunch.